Means for preventing road-vehicles from slipping sidewise.



No. 709,838. Patented Sept. 23. I902.-

T L. WILLIAMS. MEANS FOR PREVENTING ROAD VEHICLES FROM SLIPPING SIDEWISE.

(Application filed July 22, 1902.) um Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

m: NuRms Parka: co, PHOTD-LITNOY. wAsmqam'om by c no. 709,838. 1 Patented Sept, 23,1902.

7 v E. T. w|LL|A |ns. IEANS FUR PREVENTING ROAD VEHICLES FBUI SLIPPING SIDEWISE.

(A lie ion filed July 22, 1902. gnu Model.) w 2 sheets-sheet 2.

- 7 zzvcnior UNiTED j STATES IATENT OFFICE:

MEANSFOR PREVENTiNG ROAD-VEHICLES FROM SLIPPlNG SIDEWISE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,838, dated September 23, 1902.

Application filed Tilly 22, 1902. b'erial No. 116,570. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it new; concern.-

Be it known that I, EDMUND TREVOR LLOYD \VlLLIAMS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Preventing Road-Vehicles Slipping Sidewise, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved means for preventing road-vehicles slipping sidewise and is more especially intended for use on motor-cars, in which, as is well known, there is a tendency toslipjsidewise when traveling on m uddy, moist, dusty, or very smooth roads. The said invention is, however, not only applicable to motor-cars, but can be usefully employed. on horse-drawn vehicles to prevent lateral slipping, especially of the rear wheels of four-wheeled vehicles.

According to my said invention I provide rollers with running-surfaces in the form of cones'orfrustra of cones and having sharp edges formed at the larger ends thereof. Said rollers are rotatably mounted on the vehicle by means of swing-frames in such a manner that they can be raised out of contact with the road-surface when required. They are, moreover, arranged between the rear wheels of a four-wheeled vehicle, with their sharp edges toward the. center line of the vehicle.

When the vehicle is running normally, the

smooth conical surfaces of the rollersrun on the road surface without causing injury thereto. When, however, the vehicle slips sidewise, the sharp edges of the rollers engage with the road-surface and effectually resist any sudden lateral movement of the vehicle without impeding its forward or backward motion.

My said invention also comprises detail improvements hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig.2 an end elevation, of a motor-car having my invention applied thereto. Figs. 3 and 4 are rear and side elevations, respectively, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing one of the rollers and the supporting-arm thereof.

a is the body of the vehicle.

b is the rear axle, and c c are the wheels.

dd are conical rollers rotatably mounted on pins 6 e, fixed in arms ff. These arms are hinged atg g to brackets h h, clamped to the axle b, and are limited in their outward swing by means of stopsjj, which abut against corresponding projections 7c lc on the brackets h h. In order to insure that the rollers d shallremain in contact with the ground, I provide on each bracket a spring Z, which tends to bring the partj into contact with the projection la. In cases where the weight of the roller d and its arm fis sufficient to hold the said roller down the spring Z can be dispensed with. The length of the arms f is made such that they smooth conical surface 15 on the rollers (l comes normally into contact with the ground, as shown in Fig. 2. When, however, side slip tends to occur, the sharp edges on the larger ends of the said rollers come into engagement with the road-surface and effectually prevent side slip. The arrangement of the brackets h with their arms f as near the wheels 0 as practicable (see Fig. 2) insures the maxim um stability of the vehicle when thelatter is slipping sidewise, the operative roller (Z, which is preventing side slip, being the one farthest removed from the wheel 0 about which the vehicle tends to overturn.

Chains n are provided for raising the arms f when required. Said chains are shown extending over pulleyso. and connected to one arm 19 of a leverp q. The arm q of this lever is provided with a catch 1' for engaging with a notched segment 8, so as to enable the rollers d alto be raised out of contact with the ground and retained in such position while the vehicle is passing over roads where there is no danger of side slip. When, however, the vehicle is passing over slippery roads, the armsffare lowered, so as to bring the rollers d (1 into contact with the ground. The pins 6 instead of being exactly in line with the axle are preferably inclined backward slightly, as shown, so that the rollers when in contact with the ground will tend to run inward and will thus be prevented from taking the weight of the vehicle-wheels.

I have shown my improved device attached to the axle of the vehicle; but in those cases where such construction is not permissible it maybe attached to the frame of the vehicle.

What I claim is 1. A device for the purpose specified, comprising a roller having a conical running-surface, a sharp edge at the end of said conical surface, a bearing for said roller, and a swingarm carrying said bearing, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a road-vehicle, of

.. two arms pivoted thereto so as to be free to swing inwardly, one arm being adjacent to each wheel, stops to limit the outward swing of said arms, conical rollers rotatablycarried by said arms, the axes of the rollers being inclined inwardly and rearwardly,substantially as described.

3. A device for the purpose specified, comprising rollers having conical running-surfaces, sharp edges at the ends of said conical surfaces, bearing-surfaces on said rollers, bearing-pins to receive said rollers, swinging arms to support said pins, brackets pivotally attached to said arms, stops for limiting the outward motion of said arms, and springs connecting said arms and said brackets, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a road-vehicle, of brackets, arms pivotally attached to said brackets, stops for said arms, conical rollers rotatably mounted on said arms, and means for raising said rollers out of contact with the ground, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a road-vehicle, of arms pivotally mounted on said vehicle, stops forsaid arms, conical rollers rotatably mounted on said arms and having their axes inclined backward at their inner ends, and sharp edges on the innerends of said rollers, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a road-vehicle, of arms pivotally mounted thereon, stops for said arms, and rollers having projecting edges and rotatably mounted on said arms, the axes of said rollers being inclined backward at their inner ends, substantially as described.

'7. The combination, with the rear wheels of a road-vehicle, of arms pivotally mounted on the inner sides of said wheels, means for limiting the movement of said arms in an outward direction, conical rollers having projecting edges and rotatably mounted on said arms, and means for raising said rollers out of contact with the ground, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

E. TREVOR L. \VILLIAMS. \Vitnesses:

GEORGE HARRISON, CONRAD K. FALKENSTEIN. 

